THE NORTHERN MAINE CONGRESSIONAL RACE IS EXPECTED TO DRAW A LOT OF NATIONAL ATTENTION AND OUT-OF-STATE DOLLARS. WMTW NEWS EIGHT POLITICAL REPORTER PAUL MERRILL IS HERE NOW TO EXPLAIN WHAT ELSE WE CAN EXPECT MOVING FORWARD. BIG MONEY COULD BEGIN TO PLAY A FACTOR IN THIS RACE RIGHT AWAY, AND, TODAY, NEITHER CANDIDATE WAS WILLING TO SWEAR OFF RUNNING NEGATIVE ADS. THIS CONTEST COULD GET EXPENSIVE AND IT COULD GET DIRTY. -NATS- BRUCE POLIQUIN TOOK A SORT-OF VICTORY LAP TODAY... MEETING WITH VOTERS INSIDE THE OAKLAND HOUSE OF PIZZA THE DAY AFTER HE CLINCHED THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION IN THE RACE FOR MAINE'S SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT. IN THE PRIMARY, POLIQUIN CAMPAIGNED ON HIS BUSINESS BACKGROUND. TODAY, HE CONTINUED WITH THAT THEME. 19:23:49-19:23:57 Bruce Poliquin/ Candidate for Congress: "If you want someone to bring business skills - skills to fix the financial mess that we're in right now - then I'm a much better choice." NEWLY-MINTED DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE EMILY CAIN IS AMONG THOSE WHO SAY POLIQUIN IS TOO CONSERVATIVE TO GET PAST NOVEMBER. SHE ALSO SAYS THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE IS UNWILLING TO COMPROMISE. 00:02:14-00:02:21 Emily Cain/ Candidate for Congress: "We all want Washington work better for Maine. We all want the dysfunction and the partisan bickering to stop." UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MAINE POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR RON SCHMIDT SAYS ADVOCACY GROUPS AND POLITICAL PARTY LEADERS ARE GOING TO BE BRINGING OUT THE BIG GUNS IN THIS CONGRESSIONAL CONTEST. 18:49:31- 18:49:40 Ron Schmidt/USM Political Science Professor: "I think it's going to be an expensive race. I think we're going to get a lot of money and attention from outside the state. I think it's probably going to get pretty aggressive." SCHMIDT SAYS, AT A CERTAIN POINT, WHAT THE CANDIDATES THEMSELVES DO OR SAY MAY BE DWARFED BY THE INFLUENCE COMING FROM OUTSIDE MAINE. HE ALSO SAYS INTEREST IN THIS RACE COULD AFFECT OTHER RACES, INCLUDING THE QUEST FOR THE BLAINE HOUSE. 18:51:07-18:51:20 Ron Schmidt/USM Political Science Professor: "This, in a funny way, could wind up being bad news for Eliot Cutler too. Increased Democratic attention after a closely-fought primary and a more strategically-importan t Congressional race could mean more of a turnout by Democrats." THIS SEAT HAS BEEN HELD BY DEMOCRATS FOR JUST ABOUT TWENTY YEARS. BEFORE MIKE MICHAUD AND JOHN BALDACCI, OLYMPIA SNOWE AND BILL COHEN OCCUPIED THE OFFICE. THE NEXT FIVE MONTHS WILL BE INTERESTING. LIVE IN THE STUDIO, PAUL MERRILL, WMTW